Container



Patented Apr. 18, 1944 coN'rAiNEn John M. Hothersall, Brooklyn,l Y., assigner to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of NewJersey Application December 21 1939, Serial No. 310,459 -1 claim. (ci. 229-555) The present invention relates to fibre containers for the packaging and ,delivery of liquids, such as milk. fruit juices or the like and has particular reference to an improved end Joint construction for the container.

'I'he invention contemplates a liquid-proof libre container, comprising a tubular body substantially square through its transverse section, havingan end member secured to the top end of the body by overlapped anges which are adhesively united with marginal portions ofy the body in a leakproof end joint.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a sanitary fibre container for liquids such as milk and other beverages wherein the top end with a hinged plug closure having a dished plug section, the marginal portions of the top end being connected with the side Walls of the body in a substantially right angie end joint `gyhich pro.

vides for sheddingliquid or other foreign matter a substantially rectangular body II (Fig. 1) closed at its ends with suitable top and bottom closure members. A substantially ush top end member I2 provides theupper end closure of s uch a container.

The container body II (Figs. 1 and 4) is preferably formed .from a single sheet of fibrous mate? rial and is folded at right angles to provide four side walls I3. -The edges of the sheet are Joined by a lap side seam I4 extending longitudinally oi the fibre body vin one of the side walls I3.

Figure 4 of the drawing illustrates the folding of the side walls of the container body and shows member, having a dispensing opening, is provided from the top and preventing fouling of the dispensing opening of the container.

Another object of the invention is the provision o f such a fiat top containerwhich is closed at the bottom by a substantially iiat depressed panel end having-an annularmarginal receiving channel for the reception of the tubular body which is secured in place by a suitable adhesive I interposed between the parts, and producing a liquid-proof end joint.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing: y Figure 1 is a perspective view-of a container embodying the present invention and illustrating a hinged closure in sealed position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the container in Fig..1, said View being taken substantially along the diagonal section line 2 2 of that gure and illustrating a hinged plug closure in opened position;

Fig. 3 is a still greater enlarged fragmentary section of the container shown in Fig. l, as viewed along the line 3-3 of Fig. l and illustrating the container end joints in detail; and' Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top end of a partially folded container body illus-` trating coated marginal portions that form the top and body end joints.

The container Aillustrated in the drawing as a a suitable liquid-proof adhesive I5 which has been applied to the outerlap and which secures the Tparts together to seal the side seam joint I4.

4 Prior to being formedinto the container body II, the body blank has been cut away or notched as at I5 (Fig. 4) 'adjacent its top edge and at the line of fold of the side Walls of the body to provide for flush marginal end portions at the end of the container body. These marginal portions or inwardly turned flanges are designated by the numeral I1 and are bent laterally inwardly from the side walls of the bodyproducing a iiat annular end closure support withadjacent opposite ends ofthe flanges Il disposed in substantial abutting relation. The-'upper sur face of the closure support is coated with a suitable adhesive I9 by means of which the top end closure I2 may be attached. f x

'The top end'closure vI2l is formed as a substantially flat panel 2| `having marginal edge portions bent at right angles to form downturned flanges 22 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). These flanges are preferably coated with a suitable adhesive on the inner surface: as at 23 by means of which such marginal flanges are secured to the side walls I3 of the container body, Il (Fig. 3) while the closure support of the body which carries the yadhesive I9 is secured thereby to the under surface of the top panel 2l of the end I2. The adhesivesl9 and 23 (Figs. 3 and 4) are of the liquid-proof variety and permanently secure the parts to-l kgether in a liquid-proof end Joint 24 (Figs. l, 2 and 3). The top end closure I2 is provided with a lling and dispensing` opening 25 (Fig. 2) which is preferred embodiment of the invention comprises This opening is preferably closed with a hinged piugclosure 26 having a slightly tapered plug section 2l. Hinged closure' 26 is connected with thetop end l2 by a wire staple 28 which is, arranged to permit its plug section 2l to be swung to either an opened or a closed position. The

subsequent operations of lllng and dispensing of the container contents are thus facilitated as when the closure is open, or either the. empty or the lled container is closed when the plug is in inserted position.

The opposite end closed by a sunken panelo`r bottom end closure 3l. This end is provided with an annular bent marginal wall portion 32 which forms an annular receiving channel 33 for the reception of the peripheral lower edge of the tubular body Il. The marginal wall section 32 consists of an inner wall 34 extending from a at sunken panel wall 35 at right angles thereto. An outer spaced parallel wall 36 extending from the inner wally completes the assembly and deiines the receiving channel 33. The engaged parts of the body and the inner and outer walls of the receiving chan nel 33 are adhesively secured together with a liquid-proof adhesive 31 in a leak-proof bottom end joint. i f

When the container parts are all assembled a liquid-proong material such as parailn or other sanitary wax that will provide a sterile condition in the container, is coated in all interior parts thereof and preferably also on the exterior. Such a coating is designated by the numeral 38 and is preferably applied by immersing an opened container into a bath of liquid-proofing material. Aiterfthe coating operation and before the wax has set, the plug section 28 of the hinged plug closure 26 is temporarily inserted into the opening 25 in the top end l2 thus sealing the container in empty condition. 'I'his operation is performed in the container manufacturers plant and the containers are thereafter retained in a sterile condition before and during shipment tov the dairy or packers plant.

Containers are prepared for filling by raising the plug section 28 from the dispensing opening 25 and swinging it to open position on its hinged connection or staple 28. Then the container may be lled through the opening 25. The lled conof the container body Il istool would enlarge tainer is then finally closed by reinserting the plug of the hinged plug. closure 28 into the dispensing opening 25. -In addition the shape of the tapered plug section 28 may be slightly altered if desired by a suitable expanding tool.

the plug section directly beneath the under side of the end closure l2 and thus more eflectively'retain the plug closure in a sealed position.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacri'cing all of its material adva`ntages, the form hereinbefore described `4being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

' I claim:

A leak' and moistureproo! fibre container io' liquids, comprising a ing straight substantially flat side walls adhesively secured together ina side seam, and top and bottom closure members adhesively secured to opposite ends of said body to close the same, the sidewalls of said body at its top end terminating in integrally formed marginal flanges cut away at their opposite ends and extending inwardly in abutting relation at substantially right angles to the body side walls so as to together constitute a ilat peripheral top closure support to permit said top closure member to 4be adhesively secured to all portions of the outer surfaces of said flanges, said top closure member'l having integrally formed marginal flange portions ex,- tending inwardly over and secured to the upper outer 'surface of said body side walls and to said body marginal ilanges with a continuous film of leak-proof adhesive of substantially uniformy x thicknessfthereby reenforcing the container end and providing an angular liquidproof joint of double thickness throughout.

' JOHN M. HOTI-IERSALL.

Such .a f

tubular body member hav- 

